The Riyadh Business Incubator has graduated 20 new ventures from its second cohort, marking another step in bolstering Saudi Arabia’s grassroots startup ecosystem. The graduation ceremony for the incubator’s 2025-2026 session was held at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University under the patronage of Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Riyadh.
Quick Facts
- 20 new projects graduated from the incubator.
- The cohort attracted over 124 initial applicants.
- Part of the “Inma wa Tamkeen” development program.
From Ideation Camp to Incubation
The program’s selection process was highly competitive, starting with over 124 applicants from across the region. This pool was narrowed down to 100 participants for an initial ideation camp, with 25 projects qualifying for the next stage before the final 20 were selected for full incubation.
The cohort included founders from several governorates, including Al-Kharj, Al-Dilam, Hawtat Bani Tamim, Al-Hariq, Al-Aflaj, Wadi Al-Dawasir, Al-Salil, and Al-Rain, reflecting a broad effort to cultivate entrepreneurship beyond the capital.
Building Ventures Across Key Sectors
The incubated startups represent a diverse range of industries critical to the Kingdom’s economic development, including e-commerce, logistics, health, food, and industrial applications.
Throughout the program, founders received targeted training to build their ventures. The curriculum covered essential skills such as administrative development, market analysis, marketing strategy, business model innovation, execution planning, and intellectual property rights.
A Pillar of the ‘Inma wa Tamkeen’ Initiative
The Riyadh Business Incubator operates as a key component of the “Inma wa Tamkeen” (Growth and Empowerment) Social Development Program, an initiative by Prince Faisal bin Bandar. The program aims to empower entrepreneurs by providing the necessary tools to develop their ideas, build financial and marketing capabilities, and gain access to mentorship, technical support, investors, and new markets.
About Riyadh Business Incubator
The Riyadh Business Incubator is a Saudi-based developmental initiative designed to support and accelerate the growth of early-stage entrepreneurs. As part of the “Inma wa Tamkeen” program, it targets individuals with innovative ideas and previous entrepreneurial experience, providing them with structured training and resources to transform their concepts into market-ready businesses.
Source: Al Riyadh
